roodborst wrote:I do think that alot of people start with the youtube en when they get better go in search of diagrams and books. I myself prefer diagrams over youtube. Clicking, pausing, rewinding. It is the reason why I started learning folding from diagrams.

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I really hate folding from a video even when its from good youtubers like Tadashi Mori or Jo Nakashima. Nonetheless, I have seen lots of people being able to fold really difficult models from videoes, despite they will fail miserabely, when trying to fold from a diagram. Folding from diagrams is much more informative and satisfying IMO.

I only have like 2 years of experience in origami, but now I am able to fold really complex models from diagrams, because I really love origami. I have spent many hours reading, folding or trying to figure out a diagram, because I really wanna be good. In the future, I will buy ODS to really learn about origami and all the other fantastic things this craft has to offer.

NeverCeaseToCrease wrote:I feel like this "decline" was just a dip. Maybe it was this post or maybe something else, but it seems like the community is becoming more active again.

I really hope so, although at this rate it will be a long time until we reach the same level of activity as there was around 2011.

It used to be that the Origami Forum was really the only place on the internet where you could find other origami folders, aside from a couple origami-related listservs (which have now also declined). Social media changed all that-- the discussions that used to happen here didn't disappear entirely, but now they happen on facebook, flickr, youtube, etc. These discussions are frequently private, and certainly are not collected conveniently in one place, so to the outside world it seems like the community has almost disappeared.

There are a number of reasons for this. Some of us got tired of all the dumb questions from newbies, all the spammy self-promotion from certain individuals, and got tired of dealing with flame wars started by strangers with strong opinions and too much free time. But also, to some extent, we just didn't realize how good social media was at distracting us.

I've recently become rather disillusioned with facebook, and if you see me here more in the coming months, that's why.

The decline is a general phenomenah happening in all fields for variety of reasons. 1. There is a complete divide betwen older and younger generations due 2. Simplicity is no more the rule of life. Human curiosity is destroyed in childhood days. 3. Life long passion no longer exists.4. Developing a strong fundemental by reading books has vanished.5. Overall behaviour pattern of the human being is changing. less socialising, decline in communication skills etc..

There is no hope for mankind. The cockroaches are rubbing their hands together on the sidelines in glee, and learning to become Origami experts.

Look up the 1960s and the Hippies ... who became the Yuppies. The demographic pattern is similar, except for the increase in digital capability and communication. Just people 're-discovered' calligraphy ... and Origami, etc., they will again, although it may take another generation (20 years).

I just read the whole thread, full of insightful comments. It is indeed something that doesn't exist on newer social media platforms. In fact it's quite difficult to find an old thread on something like Facebook... So I'm glad forums for the origami community do exist. And I'm also glad the other places like Facebook, Flickr, Instagram etc. do exist as well. They are great places to expose origami to other people, and maybe get them to try origami too.

I publish tutorials for a lot of my models on YouTube. I personaly think it is a very good way to introduce new people (especially kids) to origami. Kids are not lazy, if they get interested enough, they will ask for books etc. That's how my daughter started origami in fact, watching videos from Jo Nakashima.

But that's only one way. Another very good way is in-person teaching. In fact I think it's the best way to communicate our passion to others. Another way is books indeed, but if kids don't have someone to help them with it, and if they were not given a good book, then it can be a frustrating first (and sadly sometimes last) experience.

I really don't know if the origami community is in decline, but to me at least it seems filled with activity, with conventions everywhere, and many people sharing their creations and folds in a lot of places.

Isn't the problem is that origami groups are separated? There is some in Facebook specifically the Vietnam origami group. There is one in Reddit, but it is quiet there. There is also a Russian origami forum. I don't think there is any decline in terms of the folders, but I think the problem is that most groups are separated in different websites. For the authors though, the ones who actually try to make new origami designs is in decline, and even if they make new models, it doesn't immediately get a diagram, or a CP, sometimes none at all.

Origami society need to have its own platform to reunite a bit. In currentworld everything is easy, few taps on phone, few click here and there and youcan have everything... but not in origami world.

Just look:1. Books on easy to find sites are rather expensive i.e POLISH YOUR ORIGAMI by Artur Biernacki was for 35 $, i bought it for 5 $ and it can be found even cheaper in Poland(which is kind of weird). I know 5 $ is way to small value for such nice book but if they are selling it for this price, its mean it CAN be cheaper than 35 $. I know they have their storage costs and etc but, I guess you get the point. 2. shipping costs - nothing unusual, they just simply have to be when it comes to not digital products3. accessibility - most of the interesting books are not available in stationary book shops and they have to be ordered from abroad (+shipping cost)4. availability - Some of the older books are hard to find and some of them are not available on market anymore5. complexity of models in one book - for a beginner some models will be too difficult, for a origami masters some will be to easy. Paying full price for let say 50% of content does not encourage folder to buy.6. Access to good paper. I was not aware that something like tissue foil,double tissue exist 10 years ago when i left origami. Half year ago when i sawon youtube how people are making paper and its name i returned to origamialmost instantly. It is easier when you know what you are looking for.

What to do?- Convert all existing origami book to digital version - digital version will be always available not matter when/where. Pay via internet is also easy and fast and goods are delivered instantly.

- Slightly lower the price of books and, divide current origami book into separate diagrams and sell them separately for slightly more than entire book.

It is better is to sell some of the diagram from book to 30% folders than entire book to 5-10%. Numbers are 100% made up, i have no idea how it look like in reality however this simple maths works everywhere.

All books/diagrams/authors should be linked each other on one site, something like origami database where folders could buy exactly what they want. Topics from forum like this should be linked to each diagram/model as well as already folded models as example of shaping. YT tutorials with permissions should be linked there as well. Models/diagram should be also linked to stationary shops where special paper could be bought. There should be also instructions how to make DIY paper: double tissue, tissue foil and etc. and brands for tissue which suite for specific models (bleeding vs non bleeding).

In times where origami need a bit of promotion, making it as available for a typical internet user as the pirate content is, would be really helpful. If origrami diagrams/books would be fairly easy to get, the paper could become the exclusive commodity.

That kind of rebuilding is happening all over the world in different market sectors.Accessibility( few clicks + small price for limited goods( diagram instead entre book) is the key to reach new customers. It would be much easier for kids/teenagers or even adults to posses legal content. I don’t want to judge but now it is like 1(legal) or 0(illegal) where 1 mean you have a good job and 0 mean you have poor one or you don’t have it at all.

Just my '2' cents from a user/usability perspective. Being an origamist, i mean the whole process is not lets say modern.

I don't think it's origami in general maybe some sites aren't manned 24 hrs...It is not taken seriously as in China and Japan where the sites...information and job prospects are seen professional...the societies have too many limitsBeing artsy is one thing .but as boys become teenagers their hormones dictate what is pleasurable and sites should provide a bridge between their hobby and how they can make a career using their skills..Of you look at the best Origami folders they know how to make money from diagramming..and the social aspect of reading is important..Mathematics and reverse engineering also being able to draw diagrams are skills employers can find useful in careers such as engineering..architecture..car design...surveying...even landscape gardening ...and newspaper layouts...graphics for video games..it all ties in..And lose the cringy aspect to where a 13 year old drops his hobby because he believes it has no relevance to what he might choose to do vocational ly